MANILA, Philippines -- The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has directed public utility vehicle operators to implement vehicle tagging on all public utility vehicles (PUVs) such as buses, jeepneys, and taxi cabs, in three months time. In a memorandum, the agency listed the guidelines for the implementation of vehicle tagging to all Metro Manila and provincial bus operators, PUV operators, franchise holders and drivers.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said after the guidelines have been issued, transport operators shall be given three months to paint their units for compliance.
According to the guidelines, vehicle tagging means the painting of the license plate numbers on the roof, front, back, and two sides of the PUVs using a color scheme for easy classification.
The regulation also covers metered and non-metered GT and AUV taxis, school buses, tourist shuttle buses and cargo trucks.
“With the implementation of the vehicle tagging scheme, it will be easier for us to spot traffic violators and those involved in accidents and criminal cases through our closedcircuit television (CCTV) cameras,” Tolentino said.
A background color scheme will be adopted in the tagging or marking of PUVs: Yellow for city buses plying EDSA, orange for city buses not plying EDSA, red for provincial buses plying EDSA, violet for provincial buses not plying EDSA, brown for public utility jeepneys (PUJs), blue for metered taxis, Green for nonmetered/ Garage Taxi/AUV Taxis, gray or silver for school buses, pink for tourist or shuttle buses, and gold for cargo trucks.
The tag or mark, painted horizontally on the front portion of the PUVs’ roof, will measure 900 mm x 1,200 mm for PUBs / school and tourist buses and cargo trucks. The tag for PUJs, FX/van-type taxis and sedan-type taxis will be 400mm x 900 mm.
The license plate number of the PUVs shall be painted over the color template using black paint, except provincial buses, which shall use white paint.
“We will be very strict with the enforcement of this resolution. Any PUV spotted by our CCTVs violating the scheme shall be considered as operating out-of-line or colorum and shall be meted out appropriate sanctions including the recommendation for cancellation or suspension of franchise to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory
Board,” Tolentino said. Upon the implementation of the “No Physical Contact Policy”, the agency has installed 68 CCTV cameras on strategic locations throughout the metropolis.
However, the CCTVs were not able to capture clearly the images of the license plates of traffic violators because of the cameras’ limited visual range.
To address this problem, the Metro Manila Council, MMDA’s policy-making body composed of the 17 mayors, approved the vehicle tagging scheme which is a re-implementation of MMDA Resolution Number 02-27 series of 2002 which authorizes the MMDA to implement vehicle tagging of all registered and franchised PUVs plying the major and secondaryroads of Metro Manila.
Anna Liza Villas, Manila Bulletin
